PICTURES: St Luke's begins demolition of Donecker Mansion

Harry Fisher / The Morning Call

Lazarus Wrecking, of Coatesville, conducts demolition of the Donecker mansion at 1801 Hamilton St in Allentown on Monday, July 27, 2015. The demolition of a 90-year-old west Allentown mansion started Monday morning, one week after St. Luke's University Health Network was issued the necessary permit to do so. St. Luke's plans to build an $8.5 million office building at the location for primary care and specialty physicians in 2017. The Georgian mansion, built for Edwin A. Donecker, owner of Fuller Oil Supply Co. and later Donecker Printing Co., has been there since 1925. The demolition had been the focus of two protests. The protesters consistently urged St. Luke's to preserve the mansion by incorporating it into the health network's planned office building. About five residents, including members of the West Park Civic Association, watched as demolition began around 8 a.m. Monday.

Lazarus Wrecking, of Coatesville, conducts demolition of the Donecker mansion at 1801 Hamilton St in Allentown on Monday, July 27, 2015. The demolition of a 90-year-old west Allentown mansion started Monday morning, one week after St. Luke's University Health Network was issued the necessary permit to do so. St. Luke's plans to build an $8.5 million office building at the location for primary care and specialty physicians in 2017. The Georgian mansion, built for Edwin A. Donecker, owner of Fuller Oil Supply Co. and later Donecker Printing Co., has been there since 1925. The demolition had been the focus of two protests. The protesters consistently urged St. Luke's to preserve the mansion by incorporating it into the health network's planned office building. About five residents, including members of the West Park Civic Association, watched as demolition began around 8 a.m. Monday. (Harry Fisher / The Morning Call)

Lazarus Wrecking, of Coatesville, conducts demolition of the Donecker mansion at 1801 Hamilton St in Allentown on Monday, July 27, 2015. The demolition of a 90-year-old west Allentown mansion started Monday morning, one week after St. Luke's University Health Network was issued the necessary permit to do so. St. Luke's plans to build an $8.5 million office building at the location for primary care and specialty physicians in 2017. The Georgian mansion, built for Edwin A. Donecker, owner of Fuller Oil Supply Co. and later Donecker Printing Co., has been there since 1925. The demolition had been the focus of two protests. The protesters consistently urged St. Luke's to preserve the mansion by incorporating it into the health network's planned office building. About five residents, including members of the West Park Civic Association, watched as demolition began around 8 a.m. Monday.

Lazarus Wrecking, of Coatesville, conducts demolition of the Donecker mansion at 1801 Hamilton St in Allentown on Monday, July 27, 2015. The demolition of a 90-year-old west Allentown mansion started Monday morning, one week after St. Luke's University Health Network was issued the necessary permit to do so. St. Luke's plans to build an $8.5 million office building at the location for primary care and specialty physicians in 2017. The Georgian mansion, built for Edwin A. Donecker, owner of Fuller Oil Supply Co. and later Donecker Printing Co., has been there since 1925. The demolition had been the focus of two protests. The protesters consistently urged St. Luke's to preserve the mansion by incorporating it into the health network's planned office building. About five residents, including members of the West Park Civic Association, watched as demolition began around 8 a.m. Monday. (Harry Fisher / The Morning Call)

Lazarus Wrecking, of Coatesville, conducts demolition of the Donecker mansion at 1801 Hamilton St in Allentown on July 27, 2015. St. Luke's plans to build an $8.5 million office building at the location for primary care and specialty physicians.